Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-16
Grand Master Hunts Emphatic
Interpretation of the hswz
Sustained. yhu Y
a Strong Sentiment In Favoka Of
Sparlng Saioon-keepers Admit
ted Before the Passage ofthe
Law In 802.
From the GlObe-EemOcrat.

order of the A., F. and A. M. in Mis-
souri, before its final disposition, is not
exactly new question in the secret So
ciety world, but nevertheless a. serious
one. Several years ago the matter was
taken ny by the Odd Fellows, by the
Grand Lodge of California, and there it
was decided that saloon.keepers were
not eligible to membership. TIE 4uek
ton, on behalf of the saloonzkeepers,
was then carried to the Sovereign Grand
Lodge, and that body reversed the de-
cision of the Grand Lodge, and said
that, more than membership, saloon
keeper was entitled to hold the highest
position in the Grand Lodge of any
state In the country.
OF the question as it is now being
considered in connection with Masonic
action, the opinion of those interested
are of Importance, bearing on the &C
ton of Grand Master George r. Hunt,
in calling attention to the law and say.
ing emphatically: EAll lodges i'm this
jurisdiction shall enforce the Masonic
law in reference to all unmasonic con-
duct TO fail or neglect to enforce
the law is to break it. That none may
be in ignorance he quotes the law, a res
olution passed in 1882: That the
business of saloon-keeping is hereby
declared Masonic offense" In his
argument, which is at length, he says
that Masonry Furnishes those guilty of
habltual drunkenness, drunkenness be-
ing stamped by the law as grossly zun-
masonic, and that it is unjust to screen
the one who causes his fall. AS to the
far-reaching effect of the law, it says it
has been in existence SO long that none
may plead ignorance or want of time to
change their business. VI
AwARM FIGHT PREDICTED.
The indications are that the matter
will result in a warm and prolonged
fight at the next session OF the Grand
Lodge, next October. The preponder-
ance of opinion seems to be in faser of'
not cxpelling saloon-keepers already
Masons, but refuse them admission in
the future. A prominent Grand officer,
speaking of the matter yesterday, said
the chances were that any of the lodges
opposing the Grand Master Hunt
order would find their charters revoked,
and that it W ould be no easy matter for
them to be reinstated. In all there are
probably not more than fifty saloon
keepers who are members of the order
in this state. The question gave great
deal of trouble when up in 1882 to Me-
ridian lodge, of this city. Philip Stoecke
a saloon-keeper, a member of the lodge,
was elected to the position of Worship
full Master, the highest Office in subor.
dnate lodge. The Deputy Grand Mas
ter refused to invest him with powers
of the Office, and the question was hand
ed to the Grand Master for decision,
and he in turn referred it to the Grand
Lodge, from whence it went to the CON-
mlttee on jurisprudence, of which Thos.
+. Garrett, of this city, was chairman.
The report was rather in the form of
compromise, and, while it sanctioned
the Grand Master action, it said that
he should have arrested the charter of
Meridian lodge rather than to suspend
the installation of the officer in
question.
Interesting opinions on the matter
follow:
GRAND SECRETARY vINCIL's DECLAR-
ATOMS.
Rev. DIR. John D. Vincil, Grand Sec
retary. l believe Grand Master Hunts
order is right. 1t is a simple, plain
statement of the law of the Grand
Lodge of Missouri. Therefore. stand
byit. l keep the laws of Masonry.
The saloon-keeper does not. He vio-
lates the law every day of his life, and
his Masonic obligation besides. The
act of the Grand Master is designated
to enforce the law. He did not make
it. There is nothing new in the case.
The circular simply recites the law of
long standing. The Grand Lodge has
said that the resolution of 1882 was
only "spcci6c declaration Of what al
ways been the law" The law says:
"1f any member continues in the bust
ness after the Grand Lodge declared it
to be unmasonic, he may be dealt with
for unmasonic conduct, for being en-
gagged in the business after the law be-
come operative"
This settles the question as to the
future of those who defy the law If